and music started playing from my mother’s room. Now that that I could see inside the cabin clearly, the entire scene became real. Things were smashed and destroyed, indicating there was a struggle. My heart clenched while I took in the blood spatters, and then I exhaled slowly.
My heart thundered in my chest when I noticed the corpse hidden by the broken table. More blood spattered the kitchen walls, and I noted the black sulfur that ran from the bedroom to the front door. Silently, I moved toward the corpse, using my foot to open his bottom lip to reveal fangs.
Vampire corpse.
Black sulfur.
Broken salt line.
Missing mother!
Vampires, demons, and witches, oh my.
Chapter Two
Once I’d checked into the hotel, I made the call to E.V.I.E., listening as they explained politics in this region of Washington. Help wasn’t coming, which figured since they played by a rule of conduct and the local police hadn’t invited them. No bodies were piling up, and one missing witch didn’t scream foul play on a supernatural level. Not even the vampire corpse had gotten their attention.
My phone rang, and I slid my finger over the screen, listening.
“You do know I can hear your creepy breathing over the phone, right, Remi?” Nyx snorted, chuckling as if she’d amused herself.
“Not a good time, Nyx,” I admitted, thumbing through the phone book for the club’s address.
“Considering that you called the elders before calling me, I should be offended. However, as your official best friend, I’m going to let it slide this once. I’m currently getting on a plane and coming to you. You’re welcome.” The boarding announcement for Spokane echoed through the phone, and my lips jerked into a smile. “No, that’s mine, it does not go below! What if I need to get off while on the plane? I can’t just grab a male and take him to the bathroom with me. That isn’t sanitary!” she whined to the man, arguing that she needed to check her bags.
Nyx was a nymph. She fed on men, and she enjoyed it to no ends. Her snappy comments and flippant attitude had made me laugh and feel accepted the moment I’d met her snarky ass.
“Ma’am, your bag will not fit in the overhead compartment, we will need to check it,” the flight attendant was arguing.
“Fine, but you may need to service me mid-flight. I get famished on long flights,” Nyx murmured huskily.
“It’s an hour-long flight, and refreshments are provided, ma’am. Please take your seat.”
“Stop moving your hips, Nyx,” I grunted, knowing she’d be doing that to make sure the flight attendant got her meaning on the word service.
“He’s hot,” she said, making purring noises at the poor man. “Anywho, your mom’s missing, foul play is afoot, and you’re standing in a hotel without any protection, where there could be Van Helsings close enough to sniff out your unused vagina. Does that about sum up what I am walking into?”
“My vagina is not unused.” I pulled an arrow from my bag, and ran my finger over the tip, placing the call on speakerphone while loading my quiver with Silversmith arrows. “I had sex five months ago, and unlike you, my life doesn’t depend on me getting laid.”
“Scientists have proven that orgasms reduce stress and are actually good for you.” The line went silent for a moment before she spoke again. “I’m sorry about your mom, Remi,” she said softly, causing my heart to clench and my stomach to churn.
“Thanks, but let’s not bury her just yet.” I carefully pushed the arrow into the quiver and then grimaced as it made a soft noise while joining the others.
“What are you doing?” she countered, and I scrunched my face up. “Tell me you’re not going hunting without backup. Remington Silversmith, don’t you even think about it!”
“I’m just going to take a peek at the bar,” I snorted. “There’s a sanctuary here, which means there’s a Van Helsing. I’d rather find him before he finds me. You and I both know that it’s better I learn my enemy rather than give him time to learn me. There’s also the fact that it’s been two hundred and ninety years since the bloodlines went to war. How long can a feud last? Besides, maybe if I find him, he can tell me what my family has kept from me. Lord knows your version of the truth wasn’t accurate. I’m pretty sure your version was more porn than facts, and well, I don’t think they started fighting over pussy.”